VIENNA – Pakistan was re-elected on Thursday to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) board of governors for the second time.
Of the agency’s 170 member countries, the board consists of 35 members out of which 11 are elected to the IAEA’s board of governors every two years.
A Pakistani delegation led by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission’s Chairman, Muhammad Naeem, attended the IAEA’s meeting in Vienna where the election was held.
Pakistan has been elected 19 times to the board in the past and has played a crucial part in the formulation of the agency’s policies and programmes.
The IAEA is an international organisation which promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy and inhibits its use for any military purpose including nuclear weapons. It reports to the UN General Assembly and Security Council.
The officials said that it is a big diplomatic achievement of Pakistan and recognition of the country’s status as a responsible nuclear power state.
Pakistan is a founding member of the IAEA and has enjoyed a mutually beneficial collaboration with the agency on peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Pakistan has also hosted various IAEA sponsored events for national as well as regional capacity building for peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
